Ditching and grading machine.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. H. HENDERSON.

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APPLIGATIONYFILBD JULY 13, 1903.

DITGHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

No MODEL.

All/r 5565 H. HEND'BRSGN. DI'IGHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

PATENTED MAY. 10, 1904.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1903.

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PATENTED MAY l0, 1904.

H. HENDERSON. DITGHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13.1903.

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H. HENDERSON. DITDHIND AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY13,1003.

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APPLICATION YILED JULY 13, 1903.

DITCHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

1m MODEL.

PATENTED MAY l0, 1904.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13A 1903.

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N0 MODEL.

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PATENTBD MAY 10, 1904.

H. HENDERSON.. DITCHING AND GRADING MGHINI-l.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 13, 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

NO MODEL.

if im" l r l lIPA'IEIWIED MAY 10, 1904.

H. HENDERSON. DITGHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1903.

L m L m N0 MODEL.

RNE Vg Patented May 10, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY HENDERSON, OE HALSTAD, MINNESOTA.

DlTCHlNG AND GRADING MACHINE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,610, dated May 10, 1904.

Application liled July 13, 1903. Serial No. 165,316. (No model.)

To all, whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HENDERSON, of Halstad, in the county of Norman, State oi' Minnesota, have invented certain new and usel The object of my invention is to provide a machine that will be self-contained, wherein the motive power is carried by and forms a part of the machine itself.

A 'further object is to provide a machine wherein the wheels are arranged to travel in the ditch and allow the machine to be operated in a substantially horizontal position, permitting an engine and boiler to be mounted directly upon the machine-frame.

A further object is to provide a machine having excavating drums or cutters that are more easily operated and handled than the one shown and described in my patent above referred to.

A further object is to provide an improved mechanism i'or carrying away the dirt excavated by the cutters.

A further object is to provide an improved form of steering apparatus arranged to operate in the bottom of the ditch and by means oi' which the machine can be easily and accuv rately guided.

the relative positions of the side and middle cutters and the position of the conveyers. Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the line t t oi' Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail section of the side conveyers, showing' the means for delivering the material therefrom to the middle conveyer. Eig. 13 is a detail oi' the screw mechanism for raising and lowering the for* ward portion of the frame and the cutting'- wheels and is a section on the line c coi' Eig. 2. Fig. 14 is a section on the line c c oi' Eig. 13. Fig. 15 is a detail oft' the screw-operating mechanism. Fig. 16 is a detail of the mechanism for moving' the cutter-shafts forward. Fig. 17 is a section on the line 1/ y or' Fig. 18, and Fig. 18 is a detail showing' the ratchet mechanism on the engine driving-shaft.

In the drawings, 2 represents the parallel p side bars, preferably bent up near their mid dle portion to bring their forward` ends on a higher plane than their rear ends and braced by truss-bars 3 and 4, arranged, respectively,

above and below said bars 2, the bars 3 being braced by standards 5 and the bars 4 by a series of standards 6, 7, and 8. rIhese bars 2, with the truss-bars secured thereon, constitute the sides ofthe machine-frame, which are connected by suitable cross-bars or braces 9, 11, and 12. All these bars or braces are preferably composed oi' channel-iron and form when secured together an extremely rigid and substantial frame for the operating mechanism oi' the machine. Upon the frame of the machine I arrange a boiler '13 and an engine 15, h aving a driving-shaft 16, whereon a sprocketwheel 17 is loosely mounted. This wheel cai'- ries a series of pawls 18, yieldingly held in engagement by springs 20 with the teeth of a ratchet 19, secured on said drive-shaft. The revolution oi' said shaft forward will drive the sprocket-wheel through its pawl connection with the ratchet and revolve the excavating- IOO drums; but upon reversing the engine and revolving the drive-shaft backward the pawls will slip over the teeth of the ratchet, and the sprocket-wheel and drums will remain stationary, Figs. 1, 17 and 18. This construction renders the excavating-drums inoperative when the machine is running backward.v A pinion 21 is secured on the drive-shaft 16 and meshes with an idle gear 22, that drives a compensating gear 23, mounted on one end vof a shaft 24, that is provided on each end with pinions 25, which engage gears 26, se-

cured to the wheels 27, loosely mounted onan axle 28, and whereon the forward end of the machine is supported. The wheels 27 are provided with rims 29, that fiare from their outer toward their inner edges, and their surfaces are curved to conform to the curves of the sides of the ditch in which the wheels travel. V

It is desirable to provide means for raisingv and lowering theforward end of the machineframe to regulate the depth of the ditch, and I therefore mount the ends ofthe axle 28 in bearing-blocks 30, Fig. 14, which have guideways for curved bars 31, arranged on each side of the machine-frame between the bars 2 and the inclined bracing-bars 32` The blocks 30 have sockets 34 to receive the lower ends of screws 35, that extend down upon each side of-` the bars 2, and have theirlower threaded portions connectcd by yokes 36 under the side bars 2. The upper ends of the.A screws 35 are provided with wormwheels 37, between which worms 38 are arranged and connected by knuckle-joints 39 and rods 4() with operating-spindles 41 mounted on each side of said frame, and provided at their rear ends with operatingwheels 42 within convenient reach ofthe operator stationed on a platform 43 atl the rear end of the boiler, Figs. 1 and 15. Bymanipulating the operatingwheels the person in charge of the machine can revolve the screws 35 upon each side of the frame and raise or lower the frame until it is the desired height from the ground to obtain the requisite depth of ditch.

The rear end of the machine-frame is supported upon the steering-wheel 44, arranged to travel in the bottom of the ditch and having, preferably, a centrally-arranged annular rib 45 to prevent slipping' from side to side and mounted on an axle 46, that is provided with Abearing-blocks 47, having grooves 48 in their upper edges, wherein antifriction-rollers 49 are arranged. These rollers sustain the weight of the rear ends of thel channel-bars 2 and allow sulicient lateral movement of the axle' 46 to permit the wheel to be swerved from side to side sufficiently to steer the ma-A chine, Figs. 6 and 7. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for operating the steerthe machine-frame and engaging pinions 51,

provided on the ends of opposite parallel shafts 52 and 53, journaled in the brackets 54, depending' from the bars 2. The shafts 52 and 53 are provided with worm-wheels 55,

between which a worm 56 is provided on a vertical spindle 57, having an operating-wheel 58 at its upper end. The spindle 57 and its wheel are arranged, preferably, at one end of the platform 43 within convenient reach of the person in charge of the machine, who by revolving the said wheel can swing the steering-wheel on its bearings and guide the machine. VVhen the forward portion of the machine-frame is raised or lowered, it swings on the axle of the steering-wheel as a pivot.

The driving-shaft 16 is provided with a sprocket 17, connectedto a similar sprocket 60 on a horizontal shaft 61 by means of a chain 62, Figs. 1 and 17. Theshaft 61 is arranged transversely of the machine-frame and is provided at its ends and near the middle with worms 63, that engage worm-gears 64, mounted, respectively, on shafts and 66, provided on each side and near the middle of said machine-frame. The shafts 65 and 66 extend horizontally lengthwise of the machine,

and the shaft 66 is preferably below the plane of the shafts65. The forward ends of the shafts 65 are substantially in alinement with each other and in advance of the corresponding end of the shaft 66, and upon each side of said shafts I provide a circular drum or wheel 67, having forward cutting edges 68 and interiorly-arranged iights 69 and cutting-blades 70, that radiate from the ends of. the shafts and from. a centrally-arranged boring-point 71, Figs. 10 and 11. These drums are all of substantially the same size Vand, construction and are similar to the one shown and described in my Letters Patent above referred to. As plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the si de drums or cutters are in advance of the middle one and above its level and penetrate the soil ahead of the middle cutter and cut and travel on the sides of the ditch, while the middle cutter eX- cavates the bottom of the ditch andtravels therein. I prefer to provide idle wheels 72 in the rear of said drum adapted to bear upon and form a backing for their rear edges, said wheels being preferably supported in suitable bracket-like frames 73, depending from the machine-frame. Itis frequently desirable to adjust the cutter-shafts longitudinally with respect to one another, and particularly with respect to the bearing-wheels 72, and I therefore provide boxes 74 on the machine-frame to receive the rear ends of said drum-shafts provided with set-screws 75, arranged to eng'age the ends of said shafts and by means of which the operator can move said shafts forward and adjust them in their bearings.

Each cutting-drum is provided near its rear edge with an inwardly-turned flange 76, which prevents the gravel carried by the flights from IOO IIO

passing out through the rear ends of the drums, and to convey the material gathered up by the said drums back to a common discharge-point I prefer to provide conveyer-belts 77, operating over rolls 7 8 and 79, mounted in frames 80, Fig. 11. These frames'are provided with sections '81, adjustable by means of set-screws 82 to permit the operator to take up any slack in the belts or loosen the saine. The forward ends of the frames 80 extend within the side drums, where the belts 77 will be in position -to receive the material excavated by the cutters and discharged with each revolution from the tiights. A frame 83 is provided in the rear of the middle cutter-supporting rolls 84, over which a central carrier-belt 85 operates and whereto the material from the conveyers is directed by means of inwardlyinclined spouts 86. The forward end of the frame 83 and the belt 85 extend a sufficient distance within the middle cutter-drum to receive the gravel excavated thereby and convey it back to a point where it iningles with the gravel from the side drums. These conveyers are driven by any suitable mechanism; butI prefer to provide a shaft 87, having a sprocket 88, over which the drive-chain-62 passes, and connected by a chain 89 with a shaft 90, whereon both the side conveyer-rolls 79 are mounted. A driven roll 91, mounted on the shaft 87, supports the rear portion of the middle belt 85 and operates the same.

To discharge the material excavated by the revolving cutters at a point on one side of the ditch, I prefer to provide a side-delivery conveyer, Fig. 4f, consisting of a frame 92, hinged on the machine-frame and provided at its outer end with a roller 93, that is driven from a sprocket 93 on a shaft 94 by a chain 95. This chain passes, preferably, between idle rolls 94'. The shaft 94C is provided with a pinion 96, meshing' with a gear 97 on the shaft 87. The frame 92 is raised and lowered on its hinges by means of chains 98, connected at one end to said frame and at their other ends to a shaft 99, mounted on the machine-frame, and provided with a worm-wheel 100, that meshes with a woim 101, having an operatingwheel 4102. This wheel is located at the end of the boiler near the platform 113, where it can be conveniently reached bythe person in charge of the machine. A series of idle rollers 103 are provided in the middle of the frame 92, over which a carrier-belt 104 passes. The inner section of said belt passes around an idle roll 105, that is mounted in a frame 106, pivoted on the machine-frame by links 107. A spindle 108 is secured to one side of the frame 106 and has a threaded end passing through a lug 109 on the machine-frame and provided with a wheel 110, having a threaded hub to ii't the threads of said spindle. By revolving the wheel 110 the spindle is moved lengthwise to swing the frame 106 on its pivots and take up the slack in the carrier-belt 1011 or loosen the same.

The operation of my improved ditching and grading' machine is as follows: The forward portion of the frame and the cutters or excavators carried thereby having been adjusted to enter the ground the desired depth, the operator will start the engine and set the driving-wheels and the revolving cutters in motion. The boring-points on the side cutters entering the soil will loosen the same and direct it toward the circumference of the drums, where it will be caught by the flights and carried around and deposited upon the conveyers. The middle cutter will follow along in the rear of the side cutters, operating in the bottom of the ditch and completing the same to the desired depth, the driving-wheels of the machine traveling on the sides of the ditch and allowing the machine to operate in a substantially horizontal position. The material excavated by the side cutters will be carried back by the conveyers and deposited upon the single belt operating within the middle cutter and transferred thereby to the side-delivery carrier which has previously been adjusted at the desired angle with respect to the machine. During the operation of excavating the ditch the operator stationed on the platform i3 can run the engine and boiler, regulate the depth that the cutters enter the soil, adjust the side-delivery carrierthe desired distance from the ground, and have, by means of the guidingwheel, perfect control over the machine.

I claim uas my invention- 1. The combination, with afi-aine, cfa steering-wheel supporting the rear end of the same, a forward axle, driven wheels mounted thereon, means supporting and permitting' the vertical adjustment of the forward end of said frame on said axle, means for adjusting said frame vertically, and a revolvingl d rum er cutter carried by said frame.

2. The combination, with a frame, ofa steel'- ing-wheel pivotally su pporting the rear end of the same, a forward axle, wheels mounted thereon, means supportingsaid frame on said axle and adjusting its forward end vertically, and a series of revolving cutters provided on said frame, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a frame, of a steering-wheel pivotally supporting the rear end thereof, a forward axle, wheels mounted thereon, bearing-blocks provided on said axle and whereon said frame is vertically slidable, screws arranged to bear on said blocks, yokes connecting said screws and raised or lowered by the revolution of the same, and means within c'ontrol of the operator for revolving said screws, substantially as described.

4. ln a ditching and grading machine, a

wheel provided with a rim Haring from its outer toward its inner edge, for the purpose specified.

lIO

5. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with a frame, of a series of revolving drums or excavators mounted therein, there being one drum in the middle of said frame and one upon each side thereof, wheels supporting the forward end of the same and operating in the rear of said side drumsand having fiaring rims adapted to travel in the sides of the ditch, and a wheel supporting the rear end of said frame and arrang'ed to travel in the bottom of the ditch, substantially as described.

6. rIhe combination, with a wheeled frame, of an engine and boiler mounted thereon, a drive-shaft, a transversely-arrang'ed driven shaft, drum shafts arranged horizontally lengthwise of said frame, suitable driving connections provided between said drum-shafts and said driven shaft, said drum-shafts'being arranged one upon each side of said frame and one in the middle, drums having forward cutting edges mounted upon said drum-shafts and those at the sides being' in advance and below the level of said middle drum, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a frame, of an engine and boiler mounted thereon, a drive-shaft, a shaft provided below said drive-shaft and having middle and end worms, drum-shafts arranged horizontally lengthwise of said frame, worm-wheels mounted on said drum-shaft and arranged to engage said worms, drums carried by said drum-shafts and having' forward cutting edges, substantially as described.

8. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with a frame, of a shaft mounted therein, a revolving drum or cutter on said shaft, a bearing-wheel carried by said frame and arranged to engage the rear 'edge of said drum, and means for moving said shaft long'itudinally to vary its adjustment with respect to said wheel.

9. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with a frame, of a shaft mounted therein lengthwise of said frame, a revolving drum having a forward cutting edge mounted on the forward end of said shaft, a wheel arranged to engage the rear edge of said drum, a box supporting the rear end of said shaft, and a set-screw arranged in said box to engage the end of said shaft, substantially as described.

10. In a ditching and grading machine, a revolving excavator comprising' a drum or wheel having a forward cutting' edge, a series of fiights provided within said drum, a boringpoint, cutting-plates radiating from said boring-point to said cutting' edge, and an inwardly-extending flange provided on the lrear edge of said drum, for the purpose specified.

11. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of a revolving excavating-drum carried thereby and having a forward cutting edge and a boring-point provided at the 4center of said drum and projecting forward in advance of the same.

12. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of a series of excavating-drums mounted thereon, there being one drum in the middle and one upon each side thereof, said side drums being' above the level and in advance of said middle drum, and means for revolving said drums.

13. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of a revolving' drum or cutter having a forward cutting edge, iiights provided on the inner surface of said drum and a conveyer-belt operating within said drum and whereon the material is deposited from said flights.

14. In a ditching and grading' machine, a revolving' drum 0r cutter having a forward cutting' edge and radial cutting-blades, and a series of iiights on the inner wall of said drum, in combination with a carrier-belt extending within said drum and operating rearwardly therefrom.

15. The combination, witha wheeled frame, of a revolving drum mounted therein and having a forward cutting' edge and a conveyerbelt operating lengthwise of said frame and having its forward portion projecting within said drum and arranged to receive the material excavated thereby.

16. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of a middle drum or cutter mounted therein, a conveyer arranged to receive the material from said drum, side drums or cutters, conveyers therefor, and spouts arranged to receive the material from said side conveyers and direct it upon the said middle conveyer.

17. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of revolving side drums or cutters mounted therein, said drums 'having forward cutting edges, conveyers having their forward portions pro'iecting within said drums and arranged to receive the material excavated thereby, and a conveyer operating between said side conveyers and whereon the material from said side drums is discharged.

18. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of a middle drum or cutter, side drums or cutters provided in advance of said middle drum and above the level of the same, a middle conveyer arranged to receive the material from said middle drum, and side conveyers arranged to receive the material from said side drums and deposit upon said middle conveyer.

ITx

IIS

centrally-arranged drum and above the level of the same, a side-delivery carrier, and carrier-belts arranged to receive the material from said centrally-arranged drum and deposit it upon said side-delivery carrier, and carriers arranged to receive the material excavated by said side drums and deposit it upon said middle carrier, substantially as described.

2l. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of an engine and boiler mounted thereon, a drive-shai't, a sprocket loosely mounted on said shaft, a series of spring-actuated pawls carried by said sprocket, a ratchet secured on said shaft and engaged by said pawls and arranged to lock said sprocket when said shaft is revolved in one direction, a revolving drumshaft arranged lengthwise of said frame, an excavating-drum carried by said shaft, and operative connections between said sprocket and said drum shaft, substantially as described.

22. The combination, with a wheeled frame and the revolving excavating-cutters mounted thereon, of a steering-wheel and its axle, bearing-boxes provided on said axle, antifrictionrolls provided in said boxes and whereon the rear end oi said frame is supported, and means for reciprocating said boxes to oscillate said wheel and axle, for the purpose specified.

23. The combination, with a frame, of a wheel and axle, boxes carried by said axle, antifriction-rollers mounted in said boxes between them and said Jframe, rack-bars connected with said boxes, parallel shafts carrying pinions, one at one end or' its shaft and the other at the opposite end of its shaft and engaging said rack-bars, and means for revolving said shafts to reciprocate said rackbars and said boxes, for the purpose specied.

2li. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with the channel-bars, of a steering-wheel provided between the same, an axle whcreon said wheel is mounted, boxes carried by said axle, antifriction-rollers arranged in said boxes and whereon said channel-bars are simported, rack-bars connected with said box, shafts arranged parallel between said channel-bars and having pinions engaging said rack-bars, wormwheels provided on said shafts, and a spindle having a worm, and an i i ...aiiiiiiiiiiiiimillenni operating-wheel arranged vertically between said shafts, substantially as described.

25. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with a frame and its supportingwheels, of a series oi" revolving drums or excavators mounted therein, there being one drum in the middle and one on each side thereof, for the purpose speciiied.

26. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with a wheeled frame, of revolving drums or excavators mounted thereon, there being one drum in the middle and one upon each side thereof, and said side drums being above the level of said middle drum, for the purpose speciiied.

27. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with a frame, of revolving drums or excavators mounted therein, there being one drum in the middle and one upon each side thereof, wheels supporting the forward end of-said frame and adapted to travel on the sides of the ditch, and a steering-wheel supporting the rear end of said frame and arranged to travel in the bottom of the ditch.

28. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of a middle drum or cutter mounted therein, a conveyer arranged to receive the material from said drum, side drums or cutters, and means for collecting' the material from said side drums and depositing it upon said middle conveyer.

29. The combination, with a wheeled frame, of a revolving cutter having a bearing-point, flights provided within said cutter, and a conveyer-plate operating within said cutter and whereon the material is deposited from said iiights.

30. The combination, with a wheeled frame,

of a series of excavating-drums mounted thereon, there boing one drum in the middle and one upon each side thereof, a conveyerbelt, and means for collecting the material from said drums and depositing it upon said belt, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of June, 1903.

HENRY HENDERSON. In presence or'-w E. J ouNsoN, Enw. Humanas. 

